
You are not alone if you have been feeling foggy, unfocused, and easily distracted. If you crave clarity, focus, and drive, read on. These tips may not be unfamiliar to you but should serve as a reminder depending on where you are on your attention journey.
You do not have to be spiritual or even believe in what I am about to say. You just need to try it, observe your sensations, and conclude. This skill, turning one’s attention towards reflection and intention, will help improve your focus. Notice I did not say rumination. When you are unfocused and foggy, you spend most of your time analyzing the past or rehearsing the future. When you practice intentionality for the present-moment benefits, you will see results in the future without having to obsess about it. Your health and relationships will inevitably improve with intention and adequate attentional resources.

Sticking with reality
If you have not guessed by now, my first tip is practicing present moment awareness, a.k.a mindfulness. Mindfulness is not the same as meditation. When we remain in the moment, we are experiencing reality as it is. We are training our attention to be in the here and now, in fact, and not somewhere in a re-imagined past or made-up future scenario.
But how? I get it… The problem is your attention is pretty poor right now. Right, so the trick is that you must keep trying. Bring yourself there whenever you get a moment to be in the moment. Allow yourself to be there. And if you keep trying it will get easier. The more often you practice, the more natural it will become.
For now, connect with the moment and reconnect and reconnect and reconnect. You could do this when engaged in work or intentionally problem-solving at home or on the job. But for easy practice, I don’t recommend starting there. First, submerge yourself in a simple sense, using dominant experiences. For example, when washing the dishes, washing your hands, petting your dog, watering your plants, sitting down after physically exhausting yourself.

Senses Guide You
Your senses are your guide; use them to anchor you in the moment. You are training your attention to escape the Wild West if you notice your senses.
When you smell something, smell it.
When you see a view, see it, feel what it feels like to take the view in.
When you touch something, feel it. What does it feel like to sit on your couch?
When you taste something, really taste it.
When in conversation, really listen.
There are so many details, many of which may be pleasurable, that we are missing because our attention is stretched so thin. And, usually, for no good reason. As you increase your comfort by limiting distractions and taking in the moment, this will be easier. Not only will this be easier, but your quality of life will improve. Just try it and see.
Komentáře